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In 1975, three guys from Australia who had recently formed a band wrote, “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock-n-roll.” The song describes the trials and tribulations one must endure to succeed in the world of music. In 2016, these words ring just as true in the world of baseball. In the cities of Los Angeles and Phoenix, two cities who have enjoyed a one hit wonder in the past, a follow up single was expected. With a combination of bad decisions, overestimated potential and key injuries, the Angels and Diamondbacks have not lived up to the billing. They have, in fact, come up way short of expectations, selling their fans a playlist that is average at best and frustrating at the least.
Angels
The rock band Guns and Roses went on tour in 2001. The band was eager to do well and expectations for their return to glory were, well, lofty. The only problem was that of the original five members of the band, only Axel Rose remained. Flash forward 15 years to the starting rotation of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. To start Spring Training, the anticipated rotation consisted of Garrett Richards, C.J. Wilson, Andrew Heaney, Jered Weaver and Matt Shoemaker. The team would lose Wilson in Spring Training and then proceed to lose two first round picks after a combined seven starts, Heaney and Richards to Tommy John surgery. Throw in the loss of Shoemaker to a line drive to the head (leading to surgery) on September 4th, and the eventual season-ending shoulder surgery of Wilson, and you had what Guns and Roses had for their first concert of 2001, one out of five original starters.
As any good rock band would exclaim, a strong front man is a necessity. The Angels once again had that with perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout. For four out of the last five years, Trout has led all of baseball in WAR (wins above replacement) and is arguably having his best year statistically in three years. Is he the best player in the American league? Probably. Will he win another MVP? Doubtful. It looks like David Ortiz will be a lock for his first MVP honor to go along with a World Series MVP in 2013. Anyway, Trout remains the Angels front man and should remain so through 2020. Los Angeles has a lot of time to form a solid band around him.
One of those missing pieces was to be Andrelton Simmons, acquired by trade from the Atlanta Braves following the 2015 season. How is the trade panning out? Well, the Braves got Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb, and Chris Ellis. Newcomb and Ellis were two highly regarded prospects expected to help the Angels in the future and many were unhappy to see them leave. The Angels got the best defensive shortstop in the game. His Defensive WAR of 3.5 was by far the best in baseball for 2015 (followed by Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks at 2.8). This year, Simmons once again led all shortstops in Fielding WAR and, excluding Home Runs, had what might have been his best offensive season of his Major League career.
The Angels have the instruments to make some music next season, for sure. Trout, Simmons and Albert Pujols, who is having his best offensive season since 2011, will be back to lead the club at the plate. If the pitching can get healthy by the beginning of 2017, as it is expected to, do not be surprised to see the Angels back in contention soon.
Diamondbacks
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Many Rock-n-roll bands have changed lead singers over time. Some have found success with the move: REO Speed wagon found Kevin Cronin, Journey was re-invented with Steve Perry, and Van Halen inserted Sammy Hagar (some would disagree with this one but 4 straight #1 albums speak for themselves). After 2015, the Arizona Diamondbacks were in need of some new talent. Sure, they had one of the best players in the game with Paul Goldschmidt, but they were coming off a last place finish and the lead of their starting rotation was hardly a household name. Can anybody name the Arizona Diamondbacks team leader in wins and ERA from 2015? Ok, yes, it was Rubby De La Rosa (14 wins 4.67 ERA ), the 26 year old Dominican Republic native who already had reconstructive elbow surgery and was playing for his third major league club.
What do the Diamondbacks do? They bring in baseball rock god Zack Greinke. Greinke and his 222 inning season of 2015, where he led all of baseball with a 1.66 ERA, WAR of 9.3 and Win-Loss % of .864. This was supposed to be the move that put the Diamondbacks back at the top of the charts; teaming up with one of the best hitters in baseball in Goldschmidt with one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in Greinke. Then the Diamondbacks traded for a stud young pitcher from the Atlanta Braves, Shelby Miller, and his 3.10 2015 ERA. They gave up a .300 hitting center fielder in Ender Inciarte, a big league ready RHP prospect in Aaron Blair, and their overall number one draft pick from 2015, Dansby Swanson. It was disappointing how everything changed as soon as this new lineup hit the stage.
The bad luck began with one game left in the Spring Training schedule when star outfielder A.J. Pollock fractured his elbow sliding head first into home plate. He would not play a game in 2016 until August 26. Grienke would then finish the month of April with a 5.60 ERA and May with a 4.71 ERA. He would vastly improve in the month of June, posting an ERA of 1.63, but by then the Diamondbacks were 36-45 and 13.5 games behind the first place San Francisco Giants. Shelby Miller you ask?? The new acquisition from Atlanta had a horrible year, posting 6.47 ERA and a 2-12 record. A last place finish in the NL West might lead to some changes in Arizona. Hopefully their moves in the off-season will pay off in 2017.
The Dodgers and the Rangers will be on stage in October. The Diamondbacks and Angels will be in the fifth row looking up. Both clubs have the aspirations and motivation to bring the house down, unfortunately in baseball, it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock-n-roll.